Remote Lead Quantitative Analyst

Placements24; Willows (CA); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Equity potential

Health insurance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Quantitative Analyst for a fully remote role within South Africa. The candidate will lead a team of quantitative analysts, mentor juniors, and work closely with traders and technologists to deploy advanced models and trading strategies.

The role requires an advanced degree (PhD/MD in a quantitative field), 8+ years in quantitative finance, and strong programming skills in Python/C++/R, with expertise in stochastic calculus, ML, and time-series analysis.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in quantitative field (Math, Stats, Physics, CS, Financial Eng).
• 8+ years in quantitative analysis, algo trading, or related finance roles.
• Strong leadership and team management experience.
• Proficient in Python, C++, or R with numerical libraries.
• Deep knowledge of stochastic calculus, statistics, ML, and time-series analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement quantitative trading strategies and risk models.
• Mentor and lead a team of quantitative analysts.
• Perform backtesting and statistical analysis to optimize algorithms.
• Develop pricing, risk, and portfolio optimization models.
• Collaborate with software engineers to productionize models.
• Analyze large datasets to uncover alpha-generating opportunities.
• Stay updated with research in quantitative finance and ML.

Skills

Python

C++

R

Mathematics

Leadership

Education

Master's or PhD in quantitative field

Tools

Distributed computing

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge financial technology firm, is seeking a highly accomplished Lead Quantitative Analyst to join their expanding **remote** team. This position is pivotal in developing sophisticated quantitative models and trading strategies that drive our client's success in global financial markets. You will lead a team of quantitative analysts, mentor junior members, and collaborate with traders and technologists to implement and refine complex algorithms. This is a fully **remote** role, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within **South Africa**, with the expectation of high performance and deep analytical engagement. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional mathematical skills, a strong programming background, and a proven ability to innovate within the quantitative finance domain.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of quantitative trading strategies and risk models.
• Manage and mentor a team of quantitative analysts, providing technical guidance and fostering a collaborative research environment.
• Conduct rigorous backtesting and statistical analysis of trading algorithms to optimize performance.
• Develop and maintain sophisticated mathematical models for pricing, risk management, and portfolio optimization.
• Collaborate closely with software engineers to translate models into robust, production-ready trading systems.
• Analyze large datasets to identify patterns, correlations, and alpha-generating opportunities.
• Stay abreast of academic research and industry developments in quantitative finance and machine learning.
• Contribute to the firm's strategic direction in quantitative research and development.
• Ensure the scalability, reliability, and efficiency of all quantitative models and systems.
• Communicate complex quantitative concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in a quantitative field such as Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, or Financial Engineering.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in quantitative analysis, algorithmic trading, or related fields within the financial industry.
• Proven experience in leading and managing a team of quantitative professionals.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python, C++, or R, with a strong emphasis on numerical libraries.
• Deep understanding of stochastic calculus, statistical modeling, machine learning, and time series analysis.
• Experience with large-scale data analysis and distributed computing frameworks.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex models and results effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fully **remote** work environment, with excellent self-management skills.
• Previous experience in **Welkom** or the **Free State** is not required but a strong understanding of financial markets is essential.

Benefits

• Exceptional annual salary of R , reflecting the seniority and critical nature of the role.
• Generous performance-based bonuses and potential for equity participation.
• Complete flexibility to work **remotely** from any location in **South Africa**.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and innovative quantitative problems.
• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating **remote** work culture.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement benefits.
• Access to state-of-the-art technological infrastructure.